Page 141 of Small Town, Big Storm

And Rain is about as amused as I am—or as I was.

Because it’s certainly much more fun to see headlinesnotabout me.

CAUGHT OUT IN THE RAIN?DON’T WORRY RILEY SANDERS KNOWS HOW TO STAY WARM

Paired with a shadowed image of Rain and Riley cuddled up under the eaves of the Cedar Hollow Inn, rain pouring down around them as they locked lips.

RECLUSIVE WIDOWER MIGHT HAVE FOUND NEW LOVE

That one came with a newcomer named Angela Rhodes showing up suddenly in town.She’s surly and stubborn enough to give GertieandClover runs for their money…but apparently has a soft spot for Everett, who owns the bookstore in town.

How do I know this?

Consider me properly indoctrinated into the Cedar Hollow Gossip Circle.

But my favorite headline of late?

THE ENFORCER SHOWS NO SIGN OF BENDING TO GRUMPY HOCKEY DEFENSEMEN

Coupled with a photograph of Shep glaring as he left Clover’s flower shop.

And there was more Shep news in the paper, namely that he made another apology to Poppy—though instead of picking up more shifts at Sully’s and schlepping more Cedar Hollow Kisses, it was to somehow convince the city council to make rocky road the official ice cream flavor of Cedar Hollow.

Poppy liked that even more than him being behind the bar at Sully’s.

Especially because he secured Pop free rocky road for life at Scoops.

My teammate is insane, but when he uses his powers for good…

Yeah, he’s pretty likable.

“Oof,” I grunt, my side stinging as my “likable” teammate launches a puck at me.I turn, glare at him.“What the fuck?”

“Ice time isn’t free!”he calls.

“I know, asshole, but I’m waiting for someone.”

“Who—”

“Let’s go, dudes!”Smitty booms as the big defenseman comes out of the locker room.He’s trailed by our teammate, Ace, who’s shaking his head.

Because if Shep brings Shepnanigans then Smitty…well, Smitty is?—

“Did you see those geese outside?!”he shudders as he climbs onto the rink, Ace pausing to kiss his wife, Violet, and watch her climb the stands to sit beside Holly, Clover, and Poppy.“I never thought I’d find an animal more terrifying than wombats.”Smitty shudders again then skates over and starts stretching on the ice beside me.“But those beady black eyes?They’re like a direct connection to hell itself.”

Just…Smitty.

I grin.

Shep skates over and kneels next to Smitty.They haven’t met before and maybe in another world they wouldn’t get along—what with them both being such big personalities—but the twosome immediately hit it off, commiserating about the overlapping scariness of Canadian Geese and wombats.

Beady eyes, scary claws, and obscene poop practices.

“One to two poundsper day?”Smitty asks, his mouth dropping open.

“Apparently,” Shep agrees.

Smitty’s eyes come to mine.“Why do you want to live here again?”